Trump's negotiators demand European involvement from Putin

In the shuttle diplomacy over the Ukraine war, US negotiators are speaking again today with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are visiting Moscow and want to inform Putin about their views on the recent three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine and the USA in Abu Dhabi.

This is Witkoff's fourth visit to Putin this year. So far, US negotiators' talks with Moscow have not brought any progress towards a ceasefire or peace.

Kushner calls for Europe to participate in negotiations

Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov announced the meeting for the first half of the day, the state news agency Tass reported. “They bring something with them,” Ushakov said of the US representatives, without giving details.

According to the US negotiators, they want to convince the Russian head of state to allow European states to take part in peace talks in the future. The EU and NATO must be an integral part of negotiations to end the war, said Kushner in Abu Dhabi. According to the federal government, it is more about informing Putin of an agreement with the USA that Europe will have a seat at the table in the future.

European representatives were on site at the talks in the emirate and held separate discussions. However, they did not take part in direct negotiations with Russia. Moscow has so far blocked European participation.

Russia insists on maximum demands

The only result was that Moscow and Kiev agreed on a further exchange of prisoners in Abu Dhabi. However, Ukrainian negotiator David Arachamija was optimistic and spoke of progress. He believes a “solution before the new year” is possible.

In contrast, the head of the Moscow delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, reiterated the unyielding Russian stance. Russia will only be satisfied "when we have won and signed a peace treaty on our terms," ​​the former culture minister told Russian state television.

In addition to its usual maximum demands in the war against Ukraine, Moscow is now also calling for talks on a new "security order" for Europe. What this means is the creation of a Russian hegemonic sphere on the continent. Medinski called the current security architecture a “sick organism”.

After Moscow we continue on to Europe

After their talks in Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner want to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Irish capital Dublin.

Heads of state and government from almost 50 countries are meeting there today for the ninth summit of the European Political Community (EPG), including Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The topic will be the ongoing efforts to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

During the night there were again Russian air strikes in Ukraine, and the capital Kiev was again attacked with ballistic missiles. According to authorities, at least four people were killed in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Chornomorsk near Odessa on Wednesday. The drone hit a market in the city center.